THOUGHTS

Survey From Sabrina

kielts — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:52:41 GMT

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? I noticed how the glass was wavy 2. How much cash do you have on you? 1,575 Rupees 3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?"? Core 4. Favorite planet? Earth, but Ogo is nice too 5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? UN Habitat 6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Some sort of drum beat, I’d like to put on one of my favorite songs. 7. What shirt are you wearing? White hanes under shirt 8. Do you "label" yourself? All the time but it is always changing because none seem to fit. 9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing? Sri Lankan made Flip-Flops 10. Bright or Dark Room both 11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? She’s my favorite woman in the world 12. What does your watch look like? It looks like a cell phone. 13. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping restlessly 14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? Your no. 0775113069 is reloaded Rs. 500.00 on 01-12-06. Your new credit is Rs. 512.00 15. Where is your nearest 7-11? I haven’t seen 7-11 in Sri Lanka, I go to the Food City. There is Pizza Hut and KFC in Kandy and Colombo. But I don’t plan on eating there. 16. What's a word that you say a lot? OK, 17. Who told you he/she loved you last? Sabrina, when we were chatting this morning. And Johannes when I returned from Colombo last night. 18. Last furry thing you touched? The two puppies at the church 19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? 2, caffeine, and I had 2 large beers two days ago. I’d recommend the Three Coins, Irish Dark over the Lion’s Lager anyday. 20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? None but I’ve take about 950 photos on my digital over the last month. 21. Favorite age you have been so far? All of my twenties have been exceptional 22. Your worst enemy? Probably myself, or capitalism. 23. What is your current desktop picture? The light coming through a skylight and hitting the circular concrete wall in a side chapel of the new cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua. 24. What was the last thing you said to someone? Tea would be nice, thank you. 25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? I would fly, because the ability will stay, the money will be spent in no time. Plus, I’m sure being able to fly is very profitable. 26. Do you like someone? I like almost everyone I’ve met in Sri Lanka. 27. The last song you listened to? I just heard Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” playing on Harry Van Burick’s computer. 28. What time of day were you born? You’d have to ask my Mom, I’m sure she’ll remember better than me. 29. What's your favorite number? 3 30. Where did you live in 1987? Fresno, California. I was 5 and my dad was still alive. That was a good year. 31. Are you jealous of anyone? I need to think about that… 32. Is anyone jealous of you? Many of my school friends are jealous of the work I’m doing. 33. Where were you when 9/11 happened? I was in bed at The Gaia House in Fresno. My alarm clock went off, tuned to KPFA. I skipped my first classes at Fresno City College to watch the news. But I did go to Philosophy 1D: World Religions. We had a really good discussion. 34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? I try to steal things out of it. If that doesn’t work, vandalism. 35. Do you consider yourself kind? Very kind 36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? It would have to be my arm, the other possible areas are too hairy. 37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be? Spanish, and then Chinese. 38. Would you move for the person you loved? Yes 39. Are you touchy feely? Most the time, I like being grabby too. 40. What's your life motto? I’ll borrow it from Architecture for Humanity “Design like you give a damn” I also like “God is a verb.” and “Immortality through creativity.” 41. Name three things that you have on you at all times? In Sri Lanka I carry an umbrella, my wallet, and flip-flops 42. What's your favorite town/city? Many. I really like Mexico City. San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. Fresno, California will always have a place in my heart. Colombo, Sri Lanka was interesting and there is a lot that I didn’t get the chance to see. However, high security and bomb blasts come hand in hand. I could also spend a lot more time in Hong Kong. 43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash? 6 rupees for a bus ride 44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? A week ago I wrote a letter and a post card to Sabrina and 4 postcards to my family. I have another 8 to write that I bought yesterday. 45. Can you change the oil on a car? I’d have to look at a book first. 46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her? Haven’t heard since High School. I do wonder though, she was a good friend as well. Lacey Price. 47. How far back do you know about your ancestry? I didn’t know my grandparents very well. 48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy? I wore a purple button-up shirt and tie, black slacks, and black shoes. It was for a fundraiser for my work in Sri Lanka 49. Does anything hurt on your body right now? My knees hurt because they were pushed up against the next seat on the bus ride from Kandy to Nawalapitiya. 50. Have you been burned by love? Yes, it was Megan about 7 years ago. But it have been more lust than love. If you care to, fill out this survey and post it to your blog.

The three-wheeler from hell

kielts — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:47:28 GMT

I have a funny story. After drinking a few large beers (Three Coins, Irish Dark) In Columbo, I took a three-wheeler to where I was going to meet my host for the night. The three-wheeler departed, I called my host to get a ride, then I went into the Food City and bought a bottle of water. When I walked out I realized I was in Dehiwala, not Mt Lavinia. So I called my host, Raju, to let him know I was in the wrong place. Then I flagged down another three-wheeler. It was not clear if he actually know where the Mt Lavinia Food City was located, but I told him the bus depot and he seemed to know where it was. And so began my hair raising ride down Galle Rd with the craziest driver ever. There was so much traffic. We were weaving in between busses and trucks and vans. We even lightly grazed the side of a bus and our vehicle was kicked by a motorcyclist when we almost crashed into him. We drove on the sidewalk and also drove on the wrong side of the road for much of the way. I had a mix of feelings. I was frightened for my life, and I was also a rush of adrenaline. Soon traffic came to a stand still. Maybe from an accident or just too many people on the wrong side of the road, who knows. What was the solution? To drive on the sidewalk of the wrong side of the street, of course. But that was only for a few meters before the driver swerved onto some dark side street. This was equally frightening because his head light was crooked and we could hardly see where we where going. We kept turning onto smaller and darker streets. These are the kind of dark side streets where people get robbed and beat up. But the light at the end of the tunnel was when we turn yet another corner and there was a sea of busses and ahead was the gridlocked Galle Road. And there was Raju and his Wife waiting at their car. What an experience!

The dry spell is over

kielts — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:28:38 GMT

King's lager is ok. It's a lager, what more can be said. Arak is nice. It is a liquor made from coconut. Served with club soda.

Traveling solo to Tissamaharama

kielts — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:01:05 GMT

Tommorrow morning I depart for Tissa on my own. It is excited and nerve wrecking. At 5am I will walk over to the Nawalapitiya bus stand in front of the meat and fish market. From there I will take the bus to Kandy. From Kandy I'll take the bus out of the mountainous Up Country to Down South. That bus will take me to Kataragama. From there I'll take a short bus ride to Tissa. There Susi of Architecture For Humanity will be waiting for me. Will he make it in one day? Stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel.

A proud day for the Flip-Flop

kielts — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:30:14 GMT

Hey Ben, I'm emailing you because I thought about you today. Yesterday I started doing site measurements at the Children's Home here in Sri Lanka. I was reminded of our countless hours spent measuring El Eden. The slopes I'm working with here are pretty intense. There is also a leech problem. Leeches are so gross, they have the body of a slug the movement of an inch worn and the blood sucking power of a dozen ticks, gross. So back to yesterday. Harry Van Burick and his Sri Lankan wife Jenny, said that I should wear my boots with long socks and tuck my pants into my socks (which looks ridiculous by the way) I took the extra precaution of spraying DEET all over my boots and pant legs. I did discover that leeches don't like DEET. At the end of the day however... loosen up it wasn't that bad... I took off my socks and a big fat gross leech falls to the ground and there is blood on my sock and my leg slowly bled for over an hour. So today, I tried the local method (while Jenny is Sri Lankan, she isn't really a country girl). This is what made me think of you...Here they wear flip-flops, roll up there pants and put this blue soap all over there legs. If a leech climbs on you can feel it and flick it off before it bites. And it actually works, I substituted DEET for the soap which I think works better. You should have seen me you would've been proud. There were some times that the mud over took me, but I did pretty well. Especially, considering the slope is 30-45 degrees in places and the is 9 and 12 foot drops. The flip-flops I have are pretty cool. I bought them locally. Here the call then slippers. But the toe and back are not rounded, they are squared off. I like them alot. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I thought of you today. I hope you are doing well in studio and in all that other stuff that doesn't seem to matter. Your flip-flop footed friend, Kiel

Children's Home plan

kielts — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 18:00:24 GMT

This is the first rendition of the Children's Home design. The rectilinear building at the bottom is the existing building that will be home the 12 orphans this december. The 3 curved buildings are all 2 stories. One has a vocational training center on top and a boys home on the bottom. In Sri Lankan orphanages, boys most be seperated from form the girls when they reach age 13. They are still allowed to study and play together but can not live in the same building. The other two will be home to 12 children per floor. Each floor is self sufficient with its own kitchen, staff quarters, dining area, study, and living room that opens to a balcony with a view of the rice paddies and mountains beyond. Each floor is home to 12 children. With a total capacity of 72 children when all phases are built.

Sri Lankan customs

kielts — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:18:10 GMT

The food is wonderful. It is comparable to Indian however it is not nearly as spicy. There is one particular dish that is my favorite. It is called earth-apple gravy. It is potatoes and onions in a yellow curry. It is very flavorful. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Sri Lankan meal is how it is eaten. Rice is served in the center of the plate. The other dishes (curries, dried fish, etc.) are served around the rice. But the space nearest to you is left open. This is the mixing space. With one hand you pick up a little rice and place it in front of you. Then you mix it with the other dishes, squishing them together. You scoop the food with your fingers and pop it into your mouth with your thumb.

Kiel does Hong Kong in 5 hours

kielts — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:08:23 GMT

I'm back at the Hong Kong Airport. I spent the last five hours on a fast tour of Hong Kong. On the plane from San Francisco to Hong Kong I kept mostly to myself in my window seat. I sat next to a man who spoke very little english. He was on his way to his home village in mainland China. There was a woman in her 50's in the aisle seat. Near the end of the flight while the man was up stretching his legs I said "hello, where are you headed" to the woman. Her name is Shirley and we broke into conversation. She lives in Portland and was coming to HK to visit her mother and goto the doctor. When she found out I was simply going to wait in the airport for 7 hours until my flight to Sri Lanka, she said that that would be awefully boring. She offered to show me around for a brief 5 hours. This was prefect because I was too nervous to adventure to HK alone. We went to her mom's apartment to drop off her bagage. It was sooooo small. 300 sqft 2bdroom cost was $200,000 to buy. WOW! We then went to HK Central (Downtown) and met a friend of hers for DimSum. SOOOO GOOD!!! We then took the tram up to the peak tower. A look out at the top of the hill. Lots of cool buildingsthough. The view was cool but it was very muggy so not too many good photo opps.

Fresno City College, four years later.

kielts — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 09:45:57 GMT

Today I spoke to 4 classes at FCC. Environmental Design, Intro to Design, Intro to Anthropology, and Philosophy 6:Logic. Each professor had invited me to talk about the work that I've been doing and my experiences transfering to Cal. The funny thing is, I was exactly where these students are four years ago. It seems like such a short time. And thinking back I could have never imagined being where I'm at now. Everyone was impressed with my work and each professor called me a role model. Wow. It was really flatering and gave validation to my chosen path. The questions from the students and professors were great, I got people thinking and that is very satisfying. I am so greatful for the experiences I had at FCC. It makes my really happy that I could give back. Today planted in me the desire to teach at FCC. Continuing this tradition of quality eduction and exploration that it offers. As I was leaving campus, I saw that there was an information table and they had red FCC stickers. I picked on up (free stuff rocks) and I proudly stuck it on my car rear window next to my UC Berkeley sticker.

Preparing for Sri Lanka

kielts — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:39:41 GMT

Today is the first day I set anything aside to pack for Sri Lanka. Only now is this becoming real. Igot an email from Harry Van Burick today, he is the architect I'll be working with on the orphanage. He wrote this "At the moment we are preparing a nice room for you at the Children’s Home with a panoramic view of paddy fields and mountains. This is possible since the Children’s Home will not be occupied this year, due to some renovation work that has still to be completed. We are waiting for funds from a Dutch foundation. Wickremeratne is also living in the Children’s Home. He is the caretaker and a nice, reliable man. Jenny is teaching Wickremeratne English and he is an eager student. Since you will be living with him, you may want to help him learning English as well." Those detail are bringing this whole effort into reality. I hope that I can gain some understanding of Shinhala from Jenny and Wickremeratne. I mean I don't even know how to pronounce that name. This is real I'm leaving for Sri Lanka in 10 days. I'm freaking out!